Looking for Homes in Glen Rock, but... (Passaic, Fair Lawn: buyers, high school)

[900fe]

Hello:
We are looking to move to Glen Rock. I like the suburban small town feel with relatively easy commute into NYC for work. And a great school system.

However, a few things concern us:

1. Near the east part of town, there is a large water treatment plant. Are there are concerns about smells or water issues around that part of town?

2. Near the south (below Harristown) and around the east (between Ackerman and Prospect), my realtor thought that there were flood prone areas there. Is that true? Any areas I should stay clear of? What about other places in town? Does Glen Rock areas flood as much as Ridgewood areas?

3. Near the southwest, there is a large Nabisco factory, anything home buyers around there should know or be cautious of?

4. Lastly, what about train noise? I know they are commuter trains and not freight trains but is there a lot of noise? I assume they do not run all night?

Thank you for your input.

EJ

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by 900fe

Hello:
We are looking to move to Glen Rock. I like the suburban small town feel with relatively easy commute into NYC for work. And a great school system.

However, a few things concern us:

1. Near the east part of town, there is a large water treatment plant. Are there are concerns about smells or water issues around that part of town?

2. Near the south (below Harristown) and around the east (between Ackerman and Prospect), my realtor thought that there were flood prone areas there. Is that true? Any areas I should stay clear of? What about other places in town? Does Glen Rock areas flood as much as Ridgewood areas?

3. Near the southwest, there is a large Nabisco factory, anything home buyers around there should know or be cautious of?

4. Lastly, what about train noise? I know they are commuter trains and not freight trains but is there a lot of noise? I assume they do not run all night?

Thank you for your input.

EJ

1. I don't know about the water treatment plant.

2. You should look on the website that shows risk for flooding. I forget what it is, but it might be on the FEMA site. I used it ten years ago when I was looking. I found your reference to Ridgewood flooding curious. I don't know of many areas in Ridgewood that flood at all. Moreso in adjacent Fair Lawn because of the Passaic River, but still, it isn't too serious.

3. Nabisco has been there forever. I don't think anyone cares. Occasionally you get a whiff of something baking. I believe this is now used as a product test facility only. If it makes you feel better, I know an environmental engineer who in her previous job checked the Nabisco ovens at that site to ensure that they were safe and not in danger of emitting any serious fumes, had leaks, etc. So, they do that, at least.

4. Train noise will become barely noticeable in the background, and no, they do not run all night.

The good outweighs any negatives in Glen Rock, so if it's in your budget, it is a good choice.

[900fe]

Thanks for your thoughts. They are helpful.


I have looked at the FEMA maps and there is a floodway near the Ho Ho Kus brook. But I also know that the FEMA maps do not tell the whole story and flooding often exceeds what they have on their maps. I have friends in Ridgewood and they have said they have flooding issues there - high school athletic field, gov't bldgs, etc., near the rivers that run through there. Hence my being cautious with Glen Rock being "downriver".


Thanks for the info on the Nabisco plant. That is good to know.


We won't consider homes that back up against the tracks so that should be less of a problem hopefully.